Remembering Your Wedding Day: 4 Ways to Capture & Preserve Your Wedding Memories Forever
Imagine this scene: Your wedding day, the day you have planned for months, has finally arrived. You are ready. Family and friends are gathered and you just cannot wait to have fun with everyone in celebration of this glorious day!
Are you imagining gliding blissfully around the wedding reception and stopping to catch up with all the friends and family attending your wedding? Are you imagining being showered with compliments as to what a fantastic day they're having and how generally fabulous you are?
Unfortunately, the actual reality of most brides' wedding day tends to be different. A recent Instant Forever wedding day survey showed that 71 percent of the couples surveyed spent only a few moments of their wedding day with their guests!
So how can you capture your wedding day memories with your guests to enjoy for years to come?
There are many options to choose from. How do you know which one is best for you? I've pulled together and reviewed some options to help you decide how you will capture your wedding day memories.
1. Traditional Wedding Guest Book
Guest books are a popular option for weddings. They're available in a wide range of colours and prices to fit most budgets, and many stationers are able to make the guest book match your wedding stationery for added wedding elegance.
Here are the pros and cons of a traditional wedding guest book:
Pros: - Available to suit every budget and size of wedding. - It's reasonably simple to organise - you can either ask guests to complete it at their table during the reception or you can set-up a 'signing table' - just make sure that your guests know it's there!
Cons: - The finished result can be uninspiring to look at. It's just pages and pages of names and addresses - and it doesn't really capture your wedding day special moments.
2. Instant Polaroid Photo Guest Book
Polaroid Guest Books take the traditional guest book to an all new level. Instant Polaroid Photo Guest Books are a unique "marriage" of a photo album and a guest book. You're guests will absolutely love taking the instant Polaroid pictures, slipping them into the specially designed picture slots and finishing with their personalised messages.
Here are the pros and cons of an instant Polaroid photo guest book:
Pros: - Available in a range of colours to match your wedding theme. - A great way to interact with all your guests. - Captures photos of all your guests, along with their personal messages. - It's an instant wedding memento that you can take away from the reception as soon as it's over - without waiting for processing or photographers' proofs.
Cons: - It's slightly more to organise than a traditional guest book. However, you can make it easier by putting a wedding attendant or close family member or friend in charge of the photo guest books to ensure they are used and enjoyed by all the guests.
3. Signature Frame
As most couples splash out on their wedding photography, chances are you'll have some fantastic wedding photographs to display with pride. A signature frame refers to the cardboard mount around your chosen photo, which your guests sign at the wedding, for you to keep. Once you've decided on the size of photo you want, you can buy a mount and frame from any local framing shop.
Here are the pros and cons of a signature frame:
Pros: - A great way to display your best couple photos or wedding photos at the wedding. - A great way to interact with your guests. - Easy to organise. The only thing required is leaving the photo mount on an easel in your reception area with a nice pen at hand for guests to sign.
Cons: -Unless you get an enormous mount, there isn't much space for your guests to write a personalized message to the couple.
4. Video Diary
Another interesting alternative is the creation of a video diary. This can work in a number of ways:
1) Hire a professional videographer. They can set up a separate room and camera for your guests to visit 'Big Brother' style.
2) Hire video booths.
3) Ask a friend to ask each guest a number of questions for the video diary. Example questions include: 'How do you know the bride or groom?' and 'What are your wishes for the bride and groom?'
Here are the pros and cons of a video diary:
Pros: - It allows your guests to create some very funny messages once people let their hair down after having a drink or two!
Cons: - Can be expensive if done professionally. Prices for a video booth can also be costly. - Some guests may be particularly camera shy and not keen on being captured on film. - Needs some pretty involved before-during-after wedding organisation to encourage guests to use it. - Certainly not an instant memento. You may have to wait a few weeks or months to receive the finished video.
Helen Rankin, Founder of Instant Forever and distributor of Adesso Albums in the UK and Europe, helps you capture your wedding memories forever. The Adesso Album is the only wedding photo guest book alternative that captures your wedding event in an Instant in both pictures and words, and preserves it Forever. To capture your wedding in an instant go to: http://www.instantforever.com
Are you imagining gliding blissfully around the wedding reception and stopping to catch up with all the friends and family attending your wedding? Are you imagining being showered with compliments as to what a fantastic day they're having and how generally fabulous you are?
Unfortunately, the actual reality of most brides' wedding day tends to be different. A recent Instant Forever wedding day survey showed that 71 percent of the couples surveyed spent only a few moments of their wedding day with their guests!
So how can you capture your wedding day memories with your guests to enjoy for years to come?
There are many options to choose from. How do you know which one is best for you? I've pulled together and reviewed some options to help you decide how you will capture your wedding day memories.
1. Traditional Wedding Guest Book
Guest books are a popular option for weddings. They're available in a wide range of colours and prices to fit most budgets, and many stationers are able to make the guest book match your wedding stationery for added wedding elegance.
Here are the pros and cons of a traditional wedding guest book:
Pros: - Available to suit every budget and size of wedding. - It's reasonably simple to organise - you can either ask guests to complete it at their table during the reception or you can set-up a 'signing table' - just make sure that your guests know it's there!
Cons: - The finished result can be uninspiring to look at. It's just pages and pages of names and addresses - and it doesn't really capture your wedding day special moments.
2. Instant Polaroid Photo Guest Book
Polaroid Guest Books take the traditional guest book to an all new level. Instant Polaroid Photo Guest Books are a unique "marriage" of a photo album and a guest book. You're guests will absolutely love taking the instant Polaroid pictures, slipping them into the specially designed picture slots and finishing with their personalised messages.
Here are the pros and cons of an instant Polaroid photo guest book:
Pros: - Available in a range of colours to match your wedding theme. - A great way to interact with all your guests. - Captures photos of all your guests, along with their personal messages. - It's an instant wedding memento that you can take away from the reception as soon as it's over - without waiting for processing or photographers' proofs.
Cons: - It's slightly more to organise than a traditional guest book. However, you can make it easier by putting a wedding attendant or close family member or friend in charge of the photo guest books to ensure they are used and enjoyed by all the guests.
3. Signature Frame
As most couples splash out on their wedding photography, chances are you'll have some fantastic wedding photographs to display with pride. A signature frame refers to the cardboard mount around your chosen photo, which your guests sign at the wedding, for you to keep. Once you've decided on the size of photo you want, you can buy a mount and frame from any local framing shop.
Here are the pros and cons of a signature frame:
Pros: - A great way to display your best couple photos or wedding photos at the wedding. - A great way to interact with your guests. - Easy to organise. The only thing required is leaving the photo mount on an easel in your reception area with a nice pen at hand for guests to sign.
Cons: -Unless you get an enormous mount, there isn't much space for your guests to write a personalized message to the couple.
4. Video Diary
Another interesting alternative is the creation of a video diary. This can work in a number of ways:
1) Hire a professional videographer. They can set up a separate room and camera for your guests to visit 'Big Brother' style.
2) Hire video booths.
3) Ask a friend to ask each guest a number of questions for the video diary. Example questions include: 'How do you know the bride or groom?' and 'What are your wishes for the bride and groom?'
Here are the pros and cons of a video diary:
Pros: - It allows your guests to create some very funny messages once people let their hair down after having a drink or two!
Cons: - Can be expensive if done professionally. Prices for a video booth can also be costly. - Some guests may be particularly camera shy and not keen on being captured on film. - Needs some pretty involved before-during-after wedding organisation to encourage guests to use it. - Certainly not an instant memento. You may have to wait a few weeks or months to receive the finished video.
Helen Rankin, Founder of Instant Forever and distributor of Adesso Albums in the UK and Europe, helps you capture your wedding memories forever. The Adesso Album is the only wedding photo guest book alternative that captures your wedding event in an Instant in both pictures and words, and preserves it Forever. To capture your wedding in an instant go to: http://www.instantforever.com
Labels: Wedding-Planning
6:59 PM
1 Comments:
All are great ideas!!!....perhaps I can add a 5th element that goes way back into history....before cameras etc.. there was the eternal keepsake....the clay figurine!
I have been creating these marriage keepsakes for over 30 years as a living and specialize in custom sculpting the wedding couple to their own specs.
visit www.magicmud.com to take a look ...here are some client reactions...
Hunter,
I am in AWE - successfully received our topper Friday....With total excitement opened it. WOW!!! The pictures you sent last week do NOT accurately represent the exceptionally fine craftmanship! Oh my word, you are so talented Hunter!!!
As I shared before, it is a complete blessing to have stumbled on your website. Combination of throughly brousing your website, pics you sent of recent work, and speaking with you multiple times convinced me to invest in your work. I AM SO THRILLED!!! I can't wait to see everyone's reaction at our wedding....especially Robert's. Remember, our topper will be a total surprise to everyone including my groom. I haven't shared with anyone...I love surprises.
The best part is this is not a typical, plastic, mass-produced wedding cake topper to store in the attic after our joyous union! It's a treasure; a personalized family heirloom. As you confidently expressed your capabilities....you really did capture each of our personalities and character. It represents so much more than a decoration on our wedding cake...I think it'll mean so much to our children as we blend our families. In your masterpiece, you brought us to life as one, just as I hoped. It is really special!!! Oh my word, I am so pleased! THANK YOU!!!!
Sorry to ramble, but your work deserves recognition. Have a wonderful day, week, month.....I'll forward action pics mid-October (post-honeymoon). THANKS AGAIN!!!!!
Genie Marquez
P.S. Yes, you can quote me...I'll be happy to be a reference as well.
The topper was received with great enthusiasm from all! No one had ever seen anything like it and it was the toast of the rehearsal party! Your attention to detail is outstanding! After I took it to the bakery to have it placed in its "Crowning Glory" I could not get out of the store because people kept stopping me to ask where I had had the topper made!! My other son is getting married in 4 months; we will have to get started on his topper now! I can't imagine the groom's cake without it! Jessie Thaxton South Carolina
Hunter, My cake topper is perfect! When I saw the picture I started to cry. Everyone in my office now thinks I am insane (actually all of the girls understand). I didn't think that there were any delays at all. You actually got it done sooner than what you originally told me. We love it so much. Thanks so much for helping make our day that much more special. We will treasure our cake topper forever. Take care, Shannon
Hi Hunter: Yes, it did arrive safe and sound. It looks amazing and I am very happy with the final product. It truly is a work of art and captures Rob and I to a tee. You do amazing work that must be commended. It will definitely be the hit of the evening. I will let you know everyone's reaction when they see it. It is a surprise to all so no one will be seeing it until June at the wedding. Thanks again,
Andrea
When we contacted you to do a custom job we were nervous about several things. The first was working with someone over the internet, the second was finding someone that could understand what we wanted. When we spoke over the phone I was confident in both your ability to understand what we wanted and in your integrity. You had no 3-D model to work with, only pictures from the internet. When we received it, only a short time later we couldn't believe how well it turned out. Needless to say, the caketopper was our special way of reminding ourselves and those that were in on it of our special bond. Thank you again for an item that will always grace our home and our memories. We have set the topper on a shelf on our bookcase and will treasure it forever. Thank you Love, Mr. and Mrs. Sam R
Dear Hunter, Our wedding cake top arrived this morning! We love it so much!!!!! thank you so much! I am so excited to see it on our cake, I will be sure to send you some pictures in November of how it looks on the cake! thank you so much! it is beautiful and something we can cherish forever! Many Thanks Anthony &Sara
Hi Hunter The ordered arrived on Monday. It looked great so last night I took it over to Nancy's place. When I arrived she was talking to Marc on the phone and I pulled it out and showed it to her. She thought it was SO COOL she immediately started describing it to Marc. I think she's decided to put it on the table where the guests are signing a picture matte because she wants to be sure EVERYONE sees it. She was afraid if it was "on the cake" not everyone would see it and she certainly didn't want anyone to miss it. Thanks so much and I will happily distribute your cards to anyone who inquires. I really appreciated the great service and the way you always got back to me when I either phoned or emailed. Thanks Hunter and happy "creating" Carolyn
Hunter,
OH MY GOD is what I was saying when I received the picture of the finished product. I was amazed and tears starting coming to my eyes because you have incorporated everything that we had discussed into the cake topper. I have to show everyone. Cesar is going to LOVE IT!!!!!! I was going to surprise him with it on our wedding day, but now I’m not so sure I should because I am so excited to show him!!!!
It was really worth the wait and I most definitely will be doing business with you some more in the future…….thank you for making my day more memorable!!!
Thank you so much!!!!!!!! Cherry
Hunter,
I received my bears today and they are more
spectacular than I imagined they would be! The hat is
supreme and the colors and so vivid! No picture can
do it justice. I know that Dave and I will cherish
your creation for the rest of our days! Thanks so
much for giving me a break and all of your input and
help with it, it is nothing less than perfect. Sincerely, Jules
Hunter: Everyone loved the cake topper you made for us. We loved our topper. It was actually used as the photo on our thank you cards. Best of luck, Tricia
I have been creating these marriage keepsakes for over 30 years as a living and specialize in custom sculpting the wedding couple to their own specs.
visit www.magicmud.com to take a look ...here are some client reactions...
Hunter,
I am in AWE - successfully received our topper Friday....With total excitement opened it. WOW!!! The pictures you sent last week do NOT accurately represent the exceptionally fine craftmanship! Oh my word, you are so talented Hunter!!!
As I shared before, it is a complete blessing to have stumbled on your website. Combination of throughly brousing your website, pics you sent of recent work, and speaking with you multiple times convinced me to invest in your work. I AM SO THRILLED!!! I can't wait to see everyone's reaction at our wedding....especially Robert's. Remember, our topper will be a total surprise to everyone including my groom. I haven't shared with anyone...I love surprises.
The best part is this is not a typical, plastic, mass-produced wedding cake topper to store in the attic after our joyous union! It's a treasure; a personalized family heirloom. As you confidently expressed your capabilities....you really did capture each of our personalities and character. It represents so much more than a decoration on our wedding cake...I think it'll mean so much to our children as we blend our families. In your masterpiece, you brought us to life as one, just as I hoped. It is really special!!! Oh my word, I am so pleased! THANK YOU!!!!
Sorry to ramble, but your work deserves recognition. Have a wonderful day, week, month.....I'll forward action pics mid-October (post-honeymoon). THANKS AGAIN!!!!!
Genie Marquez
P.S. Yes, you can quote me...I'll be happy to be a reference as well.
The topper was received with great enthusiasm from all! No one had ever seen anything like it and it was the toast of the rehearsal party! Your attention to detail is outstanding! After I took it to the bakery to have it placed in its "Crowning Glory" I could not get out of the store because people kept stopping me to ask where I had had the topper made!! My other son is getting married in 4 months; we will have to get started on his topper now! I can't imagine the groom's cake without it! Jessie Thaxton South Carolina
Hunter, My cake topper is perfect! When I saw the picture I started to cry. Everyone in my office now thinks I am insane (actually all of the girls understand). I didn't think that there were any delays at all. You actually got it done sooner than what you originally told me. We love it so much. Thanks so much for helping make our day that much more special. We will treasure our cake topper forever. Take care, Shannon
Hi Hunter: Yes, it did arrive safe and sound. It looks amazing and I am very happy with the final product. It truly is a work of art and captures Rob and I to a tee. You do amazing work that must be commended. It will definitely be the hit of the evening. I will let you know everyone's reaction when they see it. It is a surprise to all so no one will be seeing it until June at the wedding. Thanks again,
Andrea
When we contacted you to do a custom job we were nervous about several things. The first was working with someone over the internet, the second was finding someone that could understand what we wanted. When we spoke over the phone I was confident in both your ability to understand what we wanted and in your integrity. You had no 3-D model to work with, only pictures from the internet. When we received it, only a short time later we couldn't believe how well it turned out. Needless to say, the caketopper was our special way of reminding ourselves and those that were in on it of our special bond. Thank you again for an item that will always grace our home and our memories. We have set the topper on a shelf on our bookcase and will treasure it forever. Thank you Love, Mr. and Mrs. Sam R
Dear Hunter, Our wedding cake top arrived this morning! We love it so much!!!!! thank you so much! I am so excited to see it on our cake, I will be sure to send you some pictures in November of how it looks on the cake! thank you so much! it is beautiful and something we can cherish forever! Many Thanks Anthony &Sara
Hi Hunter The ordered arrived on Monday. It looked great so last night I took it over to Nancy's place. When I arrived she was talking to Marc on the phone and I pulled it out and showed it to her. She thought it was SO COOL she immediately started describing it to Marc. I think she's decided to put it on the table where the guests are signing a picture matte because she wants to be sure EVERYONE sees it. She was afraid if it was "on the cake" not everyone would see it and she certainly didn't want anyone to miss it. Thanks so much and I will happily distribute your cards to anyone who inquires. I really appreciated the great service and the way you always got back to me when I either phoned or emailed. Thanks Hunter and happy "creating" Carolyn
Hunter,
OH MY GOD is what I was saying when I received the picture of the finished product. I was amazed and tears starting coming to my eyes because you have incorporated everything that we had discussed into the cake topper. I have to show everyone. Cesar is going to LOVE IT!!!!!! I was going to surprise him with it on our wedding day, but now I’m not so sure I should because I am so excited to show him!!!!
It was really worth the wait and I most definitely will be doing business with you some more in the future…….thank you for making my day more memorable!!!
Thank you so much!!!!!!!! Cherry
Hunter,
I received my bears today and they are more
spectacular than I imagined they would be! The hat is
supreme and the colors and so vivid! No picture can
do it justice. I know that Dave and I will cherish
your creation for the rest of our days! Thanks so
much for giving me a break and all of your input and
help with it, it is nothing less than perfect. Sincerely, Jules
Hunter: Everyone loved the cake topper you made for us. We loved our topper. It was actually used as the photo on our thank you cards. Best of luck, Tricia
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